When one examines the biblical record of the New Testament authors there emerges in the portrait of the early Church a great clarity regarding the condition of this world, the need to be rescued from its grip, and to be sober about its influences. It is a clarity that is often lacking today, and many biblical texts that manifest such clarity unnerve many modern readers.

Yet to the biblical authors there was nothing vague about the distinction between the kingdom of this world and the Kingdom of Christ. St. Paul described the work of God has saving us from this present evil age (Gal 1:4). He says further, God has delivered us from the dominion of darkness, and has brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son (Col 1:13). St. Paul also recounted how the Lord commissioned him by saying: I am sending you, to open [the Gentiles] eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.' (Acts 26:17-18)

There is nothing vague here. There is a kingdom of darkness and a Kingdom of light; there is a dominion of Satan and the Kingdom of the Son of God. And the clear differences in the two kingdoms are identifiable and allegiance is due one, and rejection to the other. Nothing vague here, nothing blurry.

Consider too other biblical texts that speak clearly to the differences and what we must do about it:

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. (1 John 2:15-16)

For many false prophets have gone out into the world. …They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error. (1 John 4:1-4)

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith (1 John 5:4)

I find it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ…. scoffers, following their own ungodly passions….worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit…And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh (Jude 1, various verses)

You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God (James 4:4)

Note the clear distinctions then. There are two kingdoms, two ways, two groups. Tertium non datur (no third way is given). The Didache, continues in this tradition, stating in its opening lines: There are two ways, one of life and one of death, but a great difference between the two ways. (Didache 1)

Now this sort of clarity makes many modern Christian readers of the “pluralistic” West wince. We of the post-Nominalist, post-Cartesian and post-Kantian west prefer to be not too sure of anything. After all, being sure of something, might require something of us.

Our self-congratulatory tolerance is more likely an example of sloth. We are adverse to truth more out of fear and laziness than any virtue. Searching for truth is too much trouble and having found it, it might actually require us to reassess many sinful notions and actions. Thus even most Christians have adopted a soft and blurry faith that is far too comfortable with the world that the apostles warned us about.

Indeed, many in the Church, infected by the spirit of the world, wonder how the Apostles and early Christians could be so “sure” of what they believed and taught. Were they arrogant? No, just the opposite. To them faith was something revealed by God. And once that faith is revealed, whatever challenges it presents to our world-view and moral life, we are bound to humbly accept it and proclaim it; to hand it on intact. God is to be obeyed. The source of the apostles’ clarity was the humility of submission to what God reveals, not arrogance in their own views.

Lurking under our modern but false notions of tolerance, pluralism and relativism is the prideful notion that we human beings owe no submission to revealed truth and have a perfect right to invent our own truth, our own religions, even our own gods. But this is not humility, it is hubris.

The question “Who is really to say what is true?” may sound humble. But it is proud because it is not a real question, it is a rhetorical question. And it is a flawed rhetorical question at that, because it has an answer for any true Christian: “God is to say what is true, and what is right and wrong.” He says it in creation, in natural law, in the revealed Scriptures and in the teaching of the Church. And we are bound to humbly accept it and proclaim it confidently and boldly. But the confidence and boldness comes from God and not us.

Many in the Church today have drifted far from the biblical message and the biblical mindset. The first Christians saw the situation in bold relief. The contrasts between the world and the Kingdom were enormous and clear. The work of the Church was also clear: to bring people out of the kingdom of darkness and into the Kingdom of Light, by God’s grace.

Yet too many today lack this sense of proper contrast with the world and seek more a model of conformity, accommodation and easy familiarity. The faith, to many, does not stand in bold contrast. Rather the Church is to exist more as a division of hallmark cards, dispensing pleasant, affirming or consoling thoughts; the Church is to function more like an NGO dispensing corporal works of mercy but not really calling people to repentance and out of the kingdom of darkness.

Perhaps there was some excuse for this in the fact that the culture in the West had attained to something of a Judeo-Christian ethic for a period, at least in America. Churches were once full, and there was agreement on many (not all) of the basic moral issues. But such times, if they ever really existed, are gone now and there is no doubt that the Church must re-tool.

We must regain the ancient and biblical stance of saving souls out of the kingdom of darkness run by the prince of this world, and bringing them, by God’s grace, into the Kingdom of Light, ruled by Jesus Christ.

Blurry ambiguity cannot be our stance. Clear-minded sobriety and the Joy of the Kingdom of God; humble submission to whole counsel of God, and a clear call to repentance are our heritage, and our duty: “Repent and believe the Good News. The Kingdom of God is at hand!”

Dear Monsignor, thank you for the reminder to return to reading the Bible, to re-establish our Biblical Faith! (This can be done at home, but is best done in the Holy Presence of the Lord in the Eucharist—and best of all to hear the Word at daily Mass!) God divided the Light from the Darkness on the very first day of creation. John 1 lifts the eyes of our understanding to contemplate this Light, this Word, this saving Lord.

We should have enough respect for Christ and His Faithful Seminarians to speak The Truth of Love with clarity and confidence for the sake of Christ, His Church, all who will come to believe, and those prodigal sons and daughters, who, hopefully, will soon return to Christ’s One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.

Posted by Donald Morgan on Sunday, Jul, 26, 2015 6:03 AM (EDT):

Well said Msgr. Pope. Sadly I cannot remember the last time I heard a Priest preach on this. I can’t remember hearing about the 4 last things. I can’t remember hearing about sin, confession, amendment and penance. I can’t remember being instructed on living a Holy, Godly life. I do hear social justice. I do hear alot of pep talks about love. Pep talks about tolerance. Fluffy words designed not to upset anyone. Designed not to make anyone uncomfortable. Designed not to judge.
I came to the Church from a Baptist background. How I wish our Priests had some of that evangelical fire for God. Fire for saving souls from hell. Some one once commented on the differences between Catholics and Baptists that they have the zeal, but not the fullness of truth; we have the fullness of truth but have lost the zeal. Our Priests and Bishops must regain that zeal. I know many modern Catholics would find that type of preaching old fashioned and judgemental. But if we are to save our souls, and witness truth to the world, we must return to the totality of the Faith and not focus solely on love and feel good messages. Our Lord preached mercy, but He also preached hell, judgment and damnation.

Posted by todd on Sunday, Jul, 26, 2015 2:27 AM (EDT):

i wonder which parts of the bible Msgr Pope believes to be literally true, and which part he believes are not literally true.

Posted by charles on Friday, Jul, 24, 2015 4:23 PM (EDT):

An absolutely brilliant article and that is an understatement. Many people are afraid of the truth nowadays because it would mean taking a good look in the mirror and making changes in their lives. It would mean not “following the herd” and that involves rejection. They want “Catholicismlite”, they want to “high-five” their way through life.
Jesus never said that this life would be easy, if we follow Him. As the author points out, it is laziness, fear, pride and arrogance all rolled into one which currently infects much of the catholic world.

Posted by RodH on Friday, Jul, 24, 2015 12:25 PM (EDT):

Look at it this way, fellows; We have had about 8 bad Popes out of 266. That’s like a .985 batting average! Even if you add a 9th there isn’t a thinking team out there that wouldn’t want to have us on the roster!!

Posted by RodH on Friday, Jul, 24, 2015 11:27 AM (EDT):

Right on, Dan.

I believe we are living in a time when moral issues are as big a threat to the Church as the theological issues were during the Age of the Arian Heresy.

Well, at least we have one POPE who still remembers the clarity of Catholic teaching! LOL

Posted by Dan on Friday, Jul, 24, 2015 10:55 AM (EDT):

Unfortunately many of our Shepherds speak in very confusing ways. It seems like the more words that are used the more convoluted the message becomes. Why not just say things like “Love the sinner, hate the sin.” “Judge and condemn the sin, but do not judge or condemn the one who sins” Unfortunately this mushiness is infiltrating even into devout souls. In speaking with devout Catholics, I have said things like “Homosexual acts are intrinsically evil and gravely contrary to God’s law.” They appear shocked and disgusted by this statement. I explain that we must love all people with SSA, but must be clear that homosexual acts only lead one away from God. I believe it is the silence of the pastors that have led people to believe that we are to “tolerate” homosexual acts. If not a “good” it is at least thought of as a “neutral”, which is a lie.

Posted by Sean on Friday, Jul, 24, 2015 8:10 AM (EDT):

Great article. Thank you, Msgr Pope.
The narrow gate exists. The path to destruction exists.
And the fog of “Who am I to judge?” is lukewarm, confusing mush.

The best way to summarize my overall reaction would be to play the following URL - and crank up the volume

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VI6dsMeABpU

Posted by Hanna on Thursday, Jul, 23, 2015 5:21 PM (EDT):

Msgr, thank you! I hope you make some confrence or CDs on this extended subject. We need them! I will let my husband to hear while he goes to work!

Posted by Ursula Riches on Thursday, Jul, 23, 2015 5:08 PM (EDT):

The faithful ought to know what is right and wrong and not have to constantly have it spelled out to them. We should be able to know and to present to to others what is right from wrong whether the media has presented utterings from our Pope or others in our church as being at variance with it.
Something I find strange is that the RC believe that Putin is a bogeyman, that Gaddafi was a dictator murdering his people, that Iran is a threat because it may get nukes one day, that the nukes of Iz, already used in Libya and on the Palestinian people and having bombed Syria, that they are not a threat. They believe the US is bombing ISIS (terrorists whom they trained and whom they supported against the rest of the Syrian people and before that against the Libyan people) and yet once it comes to abortion, euthanasia, gay marriage, Obamacare or the media reports with regard to Catholics, they are at once healthy skeptics and at once better informed.
RC seem to know that abortion is not a healthcare and yet they are under some kind of hypnotic trance of blind trust in medical care, a trust in doctors infallibility that is greater than their trust in Papal infallibility. Why are we not questioning all vaccinations, all cancer treatments, the science behind all of our health service, the science behind all of our medications, our notions of money and money creation and our version of democracy?
If our health service is wrong on several counts, perhaps they are rotten on m ost accounts even? If our media is untrustworthy when it comes to us, should we believe them when it comes to anyone else?
Open your eyes and see, no longer soviet but rather, Christian Russia and an America who is now where Russia once was. Gaddafi had direct democracy for his people ad if he presented an idea, they would often reject it, if not altogether, at least in the first instance until he would explain and win them over. Assad has implemented reforms in Syria that his people wanted and nobody knows or wants the puppets the USUK has already prepared to take Syria over.
The so-called Muslim terrorists ae not Shia or Sunni but rather the religion they claim is Wahhabism, which did not begin until the end of C18. The relation this has to Islam and the Koran is like the relationship the Talmud has to the Torah. Wahhabism is a violent religion promoted by the Saudis. The Wahhabis and any other branch of Islam have far less in common than we have with many protestants. It is like comparing the Talmud of the pharisees to the Torah. In fact Wahhabism and the Talmud, now we see some similarity.

Posted by RodH on Thursday, Jul, 23, 2015 3:23 PM (EDT):

Msgr Pope:

AMEN and HALLELUJAH!

As a convert, I find myself confused and struggling to understand the seeming constancy of chaos we get through the silence, timidity and confusing statements that emanate for many of our leaders. I find this utterly remarkable because we have a totally comprehensive body of literature, documents and teachings that span the history of the Church upon which to shore up our message. Yet today we get soft sell, vague innuendo and what looks like patent fear from many in our leadership. THANK you for focusing us ALL on the need to deliver a clear message of hope and dare I say it, even at times the threat of impending judgment to a lost and deluded world.

To be frank, I really think the answer is time. This generation of Vatican 2 hijackers is, like the cowards of Israel, simply going to have to die in the desert before the rest of the Church is going to be able to get with the business of occupying the Promised Land.

Thank you again for a wonderful message.

And yes, your insight on sloth being the sin of this generation is SPOT ON. Let’s look at what it includes amongst the current generation of Americans in general and Catholics in specific; false tolerance, refusal to voice unpopular doctrines, heck, even obesity which the last time I checked relates to a similar sin of gluttony…

Posted by Dr. Bob on Thursday, Jul, 23, 2015 3:06 PM (EDT):

My views exactly! Too much moral mush in society. The truth has been spoken…....well done.
You hit the nail on the head!!!!

Posted by Dave on Thursday, Jul, 23, 2015 3:04 PM (EDT):

“The question “Who is really to say what is true?” may sound humble. But it is proud because it is not a real question, it is a rhetorical question.” It was also Pontius Pilate’s (rhetorical) question.

And political correctness has been a slow-growing, metastasizing cancer in us all over the years due to fuzzy, feel good blurry teaching in churches, most likely due to misunderstanding about what Vatican II was really intended to do—bring the Church up to date without tossing the baby—solid, scripture and Christ-centered Tradition—out with the bath water. Our moral compass has been severely compromised over time. We have succumbed to the “I’m OK, you’re OK” moral relativism of the 1960s onward, the sexual revolution, Great Society, etc. that the Evil One has been expertly using. High time for moral clarity. Kudos and keep it up, Msgr. Pope! I applaud the Catholic Register for publishing his blog. Now let’s hear it in the pews and practice it and share the Good News of Jesus Christ. We will be persecuted, but eternal glory awaits faithful souls who stay the course. Amen?

Posted by Sherry on Thursday, Jul, 23, 2015 10:49 AM (EDT):

Thank you, Msgr. Pope. This article is an excellent representation of what is wrong and what is needed.

Hallmark niceties are the “newspeak” of today. And our NGO politicking and our almost exclusive focus on the corporal works of mercy have really oriented us toward this world and the utopian world we are now trying to create.

Clarity of our beliefs and mission are essential. The upcoming Synod must not be yet another example of double talk. Our families need Truth - that which will set us free.

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Msgr. Charles Pope is currently a dean and pastor in the Archdiocese of Washington, DC, where he has served on the Priest Council, the College of Consultors, and the Priest Personnel Board. Along with publishing a daily blog at the Archdiocese of Washington website, he has written in pastoral journals, conducted numerous retreats for priests and lay faithful, and has also conducted weekly Bible studies in the U.S. Congress and the White House. He was named a Monsignor in 2005.